As Sheriff Marlin Gusman and former Sheriff Charles Foti battle it out for a chance to run Orleans Parish Prison for the next four years, both have recently turned to their inner circles for financial support, according to the latest campaign finance records.

Between Christmas Eve and Jan. 12, Foti raised $83,700, although about $46,000 of that was a loan he made to his campaign. Gusman raised $10,000 in the same period, but had the largest
war chest, $248,000. Foti had $177,000.

Orleans Parish School
Board member Ira Thomas raised the smallest amount, $4,550, and had $15,900 on
hand. A fourth candidate, landscaper Quentin Brown, has not raised any money.

The primary is Feb. 1.

Foti received $25,000 from his law partners at Kahn, Swick & Foti. Michael Swick and Lewis Kahn each personally contributed $5,000, the maximum allowed under state law. The pair also bundled another $10,000 through their companies Kahn & Swick Real Estate and Kahn & Swick Ventures. The final $5,000 came from the law firm itself.

Meanwhile, Gusman received $2,100 from Karen Ursin, wife of his second-in-command, Chief Deputy Gerald Ursin. That raised the total Karen Ursin has donated this election to $4,700. Col. Melvin Howard, who runs the Sheriff's Office's subpoenas division, donated $2,000 in the period covered by the latest reports, raising his total this campaign to $2,200.

Gusman has attracted the most endorsements among all candidates. The latest report showed that his campaign has also donated substantial amounts to some civic and political organizations that give endorsements.

In the first few weeks of January, Gusman's campaign donated $20,000 to Alliance for Good Government, $10,000 to the Black Organization for Leadership and Development, $5,000 each to the Southern Organization for Unified Leadership, the Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee and Algiers Political Action Committee. All five groups endorsed Gusman.

The reports also showed Gusman donations of $3,000 to the Independent Democratic Electors Association, $2,500 to the Young Adults Political Association and $500 to Young Democrats of New Orleans.

Foti, meanwhile contributed $3,000 to the Crescent City Democratic Association.

Orleans Parish Prison: How did we get here?Four nearly four decades, two men have been in charge of the Orleans Parish Prison. They are the leading contenders asking voters for a chance to lead the troubled jail for the next four years as it undergoes major reforms.